24 years after playing their first game in the Connacht Championship, New York enjoyed their first victory on Saturday night at Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
Johnny McGeeney's side beat Leitrim 2-0 on penalties after the game had finished 0-15 each following extra-time.
New York led 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time in normal time, but trailed by a point as seven minutes of injury time at the end of the game ticked to a conclusion. Dublin All-Ireland winner Shane Carthy, who was born in New York, kicked the equalising point to level the match at 0-13 each and take it to the additional 20 minutes.
Sensational score from @NewYorkGAA’s Shane Carthy sends it to extra-time in New York, what a game #GAA @GAAGO pic.twitter.com/rOhQ5qCEt2
— Seán Hussey (@SeanHussey00) April 8, 2023
The penalties were full of drama as Leitrim missed four times. American-born player Mikey Brosnan ultimately delivered the winning penalty, queueing wild scenes.
Attached video clip Newyork have won their first ever Connacht championship football game beating Leitrim a marvellous game.Mike Brosnan scored the winning penalty shootout.@NewYorkGAA @TheSundayGame @TomasORuanaidh @bernardjackman @thomasniblock @Jhiggins3 pic.twitter.com/gR2TULOzWq
— Paraic Farrelly 1 (@FarrellyParaic1) April 9, 2023
The emotion of the moment was captured perfectly after that final penalty by New York captain (and Galway All-Ireland winner Johnny Glynn).
New York have done it! pic.twitter.com/LThu8pxNeN
— John Riordan (@JohnWRiordan) April 9, 2023
New York will face Sligo in the Connacht semi-finals with a place in the Sam Maguire group stage on the line. The GAA confirmed during the week that should New York reach the provincial decider, they will have a home game, along with an away game and one at a neutral venue, in the new round robin phase. If they do not beat Sligo, New York will enter the Tailteann Cup at the preliminary quarter-final stage.
Leitrim now await the Tailteann Cup group stage draw which will be made in early May.
Sportsfile's David Fitzgerald was at Gaelic Park to capture the action and the celebrations.
8 April 2023; Mikey Brosnan of New York scores the winning penalty for his side during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match against Leitrim at Gaelic Park in New York, USA. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Shane Carthy of New York celebrates with GAA president Larry McCarthy during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; GAA president Larry McCarthy celebrates with Shane Carthy. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Mikey Brosnan, left, and Killian Butler of New York celebrate. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Daniel O'Sullivan, left, and Eoghan Kerin of New York celebrate with supporters. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Michael Cunningham of New York celebrates with supporters. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Killian Butler of New York celebrates. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Shane Carthy celebrates with Niall Madine. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Eoghan Kerin of New York with Jack Heslin of Leitrim during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Gavin O'Brien of New York in action against Pearce Dolan, left, and Shane Quinn of Leitrim during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; New York backroom team celebrate a late equaliser. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; A general view of action during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between New York and Leitrim at Gaelic Park. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Shane Carthy in action against Shane Quinn of Leitrim. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; A railyard worker watches from the nearby tracks during the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
8 April 2023; Jack Reilly of New York, centre, celebrates after Leitrim miss a penalty. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
See Also: Fear On The Field, Trouble Off It: Leitrim's Infamous 2003 Trip To The US
